Multiple unit propel-repel writing instrument



Feb. 8, 1966 J. F. G. BOWLBY ETAL 3,233,593

MULI'IlILE UNIT PROPEL-REPEL WRITING INSTRUMENT Original Filed Oct. 22, 1963 INVENTORS JAMES F. G. BOWLBY. EDWARD I. SCHLUSSEL Patented Feb. 8, 1966 3,233,593 MULTIPLE UNIT PROPELREPEL WMTING INSTRUMENT James F. G. Bowlby, Butler, N.J., and Edward I. Schlussel, New York, N.Y., assignors to Streamline Plastics (10., Bronx, N.Y. Continuation of application Ser. No. 317,912, Oct. 22, 1963. This application Mar. 16, 1965, Set. No. 443,765 r 8 Claims. (Cl. 120-4213) The present invention relates to a writing instrument, and more particularly to a writing instrument of the type having a multiplicity of propel-repel writing units or elements in a common barrel, each of which may be selectively moved into writing position by propelling it into a position of projecting from the barrel. More particularly, the present invention relates to a writing instrument, of the character described, in which the writing units or elements are in the form of ball-point ink cartridges. This application is a continuation of our application Serial No. 317,912, filed October 22, 1963, and now abandoned.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a writing instrument, of the character described, which is formed of a minimum of parts, all of which with the exception of the ball-point ink cartridges, and the springs conventionally used with them, may be easily and economically mass produced by molding.

The present invention is also directed to the provision of a writing instrument, of the character described, whose few parts may be quickly and easily assembled with the ball-point ink cartridges and quickly and conveniently disassembled and reassembled for the replacement of any spent or defective ball-point ink cartridges.

The present inventionis additionally directed to the provision of a writing instrument, of the character described, in which the propulsion of any of the ink cartridges into writing position acts automatically and directly on the companion cartridge previously in operating position to repel and retract the latter into non-operating position.

The present invention is further directed to the provision of a writing instrument having the foregoing characteristics, which may be formed to utilize a varied number of writing units, such as 2, 3, or 4 writing units.

The present invention is still further directed to the provision of a writing instrument of the character described, which is of relatively compact and sturdy construction; which is easy and convenient to manipulate; is sure in its operation, and is of attractive appearance.

"The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the multiple unit writing instrument of the present invention, will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible and without'any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view, partly in elevation and partly in'section, of the embodiment of a writing instrument of the present invention; illustrated with a single writing unit;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional and partly elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the operating end of the writing instrument, taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 4, shown with a multiplicity of writing units, with one of the units in operating position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but taken at an angle of 90 thereto;

FIG. 4 is a cross section View, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view, similar to that of FIG. 4, but on a reduced scale and showing all of the writing units in retracted, non-operating position;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of FIG. 2; showing the instrument with one unit missing and the spring on the other unit likewise missing;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 88 of FIG. 1.

Referring now in greater detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the writing instrument is shown to comprise a barrel, generally designated as ill, which comprises a lower section 12 having a tapering end 14 defining a restricted opening 16 and an upper section 18, which may preferably be of larger diameter than the lower barrel section 12, and is defined therefrom by an internal shoulder 20 forming an abutment for a cage, generally designated as 22, which is insertable into the barrel section 10, through its open end and closely fitted therein.

The barrel section 18 is preferably of cylindrical shape, especially when used for more than two writing elements, as illustrated, and the cage 22 is of corresponding cross-section. The cage 22, which supports all of the operating mechanism of the instrument, comprises a bottom wall or base 24 adapted to fit snugly within the barrel section 18 on which are peripherally disposed, in spaced relation to one another, a plurality of upright posts or bars, each generally designated as 26, separated by spaces 28, equal in number to the number of writing units in the instrument. The posts 26 are connected at their upper ends by a top wall or cap 36, which is preferably of lesser diameter than the base 24, to leave the upper end of spaces 28 partly open for a purpose which will hereinafter become clear. The cage 22, as well as the barrel 1% may each be molded in one piece of any suitable synthetic plastic material.

The cage 22 is of a height greater than the depth of barrel section 18 and each of its posts 26 is of substantially rectangular cross-section, except for its outer surface which is preferably arcuate, to conform to the shape of the base 24, and comprises an upper portion 32 of reater thickness than the lower portion 34 thereof. The lower post portion 34 is of a height greater than the depth of the barrel section 18 and is defined from the upper portion 32 by flat shoulders 36 formed on each side. Such construction of posts 26 provides spaces 28 between them that are wedge-shaped and wider between the lower thinner post 34 and narrower between the upper thickness portion 32.

Each of spaces 28 serves as a guideway for a plunger 49, which is of cross-section corresponding in shape and thickness to the cross-section of the upper part of a space 28 between post sections 32 and is preferably formed with a rectangular inner projection 42 on the upper portion of which projection there is provided a nose d4 of triangular cross-section whose lower end 46 is downwardly and inwardly tapered and terminates at a distance from the top end of the plunger that is less than the height of the portion of the posts exposed above the barrel section 18. Each plunger 40 is so formed that the distance from the edge of its triangular nose 33 to its outer periphery is equal to a radius of the circle of the cross-section of the cage 22, so that when any portion of the plunger is disposed in the upper part of space 28, its inner corner will approximate the axial center of the cage.

Each of the plungers 40 is provided with a cylindrical projection 59 on its inner end, preferably disposed at the junction of its wedge-shaped portion with its rectangu- 3. lar extension 42. The projection M) is of a thickness to fit snugly within the open end of a tubular writing unit such as the open end of the plastic ball-point ink cartridge 52 and is provided with means for gripping the inner wall of such cartridge tube to secure it in place thereon. Such means may comprise a conical head 54 at the end of the projection or pin Ell, whose sharp inner edge may engage into the tube wall.

The base 24 of the cage 22 may be provided with a central opening 58 formed with a semi-circular scalloped recess 60 in its edge, one opposite each of the cage spaces 28, which serve as guideways for a writing unit 52.

To assemble the writing instrument of the invention, coil springs 62, equal in number to the number of writing units in the instrument, may be inserted into the cage through the opening 58 in the base 24 thereof. A plunger 49 may then be inserted into each of the spaces 28 with its projecting pin 52 inserted within the end of one of the springs 62, whose other end is arranged to abut the marginal edge portion of the corresponding scallop-recess 6%. A writing instrument such as the plastic ball-point ink cartridge 32, may then be inserted into the cage through opening 58, into each spring and its open end engage on the projecting pins 52 of a plunger 40. When all of the plungers have been supplied with writing elements 52, the cage 22. and writing elements 52 may be inserted into the barrel 10 until stopped by the shoulder 28. When in this position, the springs 62 will maintain the plungers 40 in uppermost position with their upper ends disposed between post sections 32. The barrel section 12 is of such length that when the plungers 48' are in the last-named position, the ball-point ends of the writing units 52 are retracted into the barrel section 12.

Detent means may be provided for securing the cage 22 within the barrel section 13 against inadvertent displacement therefrom. Such means may comprise recesses 66 formed in the wall of barrel section 18 preferably at diametrically opposed points, and correspondingly positioned projections 68, provided on at least one of the posts26, that may be snap-fitted into the recesses 66.

It may be here also stated that if desired a pocket clip '76 may be provided on the writing instrument, preferably integrally molded within the upper section 18 of the barrel 10, as illustrated,

To adjust the writing instrument for writing, any selected plunger 46 may be engaged through its opening portion of its guideway space 28, at the top of the cage, for depression to propel its attached writing unit into operating position, through the restricted opening 16, at the bottom of the barrel section 12. As the top of the depressed plunger 40 reaches a point below the shoulders 35 of the posts 26, to each side thereof, it may be inwardly pushed to have the edges of its top face engage under such shoulders and thereby retain the plunger 40 in depressed position, with its attached writing unit 52 in writing position. When it is desired to utilize another of the writing units, its associated plunger at) is depressed in the same manner as described above. As the taper ends 46 f the nose 44, of the second plunger 4% is lowered it will engage the nose of the first plunger to displace the first plunger outwardly towards the Walls of the barrel section 18, and thereby release the top sfface from the shoulders 29 engaging it, so it is repelled upwardly by its spring 62., permitting the second plunger, being then manually depressed to a point below its adjacent shoulders 20 to be inwardly displaced and engaged under such shoulders.

This completes the description of the writing instrument of the present invention and the manner of its assembly and operation. It will be readily apparent that such writing instrument comprises a minimum of operating parts, all of which may be economically mass-produced by molding; that such parts may be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled; that it is compact and convenient to handle or carry in a pocket; and that it is simple, easy and convenient to use.

It will also be apparent that numerous modifications and variations may be made in the writing instrument of the present invention, in accordance with the principles thereof, hereinabove set forth, and without the exercise of any inventive ingenuity. We desire, therefore, to be protected for any and all such modifications and variations that may be made within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims hereto appended.

In the claims:

ll. A writing instrument for multiple propel-repel writing units, comprising a barrel and a writing unit supporting and moving structure inserted into one end of said barrel, said structure comprising a base portion adapted to fit snugly within said barrel and a plurality of spaced upright posts disposed peripherally on said base portion defining plunger guideways between them and projecting from said barrel, a plunger slidably disposed within each said guideway, each said plunger having a nose on its surface facing the axial center of said structure, means within said structure, at the portion thereof above the edge of said barrel, limiting the movement of each said plunger toward the axial center of said structure to prevent disposal of the nose thereof past said center, means on each said post,below said limiting means and above the edge of said barrel adapted to engage the outer end of a plunger when said plunger is moved downwardly in its guideway and upwardly toward said center to dispose said nose thereof past said axial center, each said plunger having means on its inner end for engaging a writing unit, said base portion having an opening formed therethrough for insertion of a writing unit into the structure for engagement on said engaging means.

2-. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein said posts comprise at least three in number.

3. A writing instrument :for multiple propel-repel writing units, comprising a barrel, said barrel having a taper at one end section defining a restricted outer opening and a writing unit supporting and moving structure inserted into the other end of said barrel,'said structure comprising a cage, including a base adapted to snugly fit within said other barrel end, and a plurality of spaced upright posts disposed peripherally on said base, said posts defining a plunger guideway between them, each said post having an upper portion formed with a projection extending into the space between it and the post adjacent thereto, means maintaining said cage within said barrel with said projections disposed above the edge of said barrel and spaced therefrom a plunger disposed within each said guideway for vertical reciprocal movement therein each said plunger being of a thickness to abut said post projections when in uppermost position within said guideway to be thereby inhibited against movement towards the axial center of said cage, between said posts, said upper portions of each of said plungers formed with a projection adapted to extend to the axial center of said cage when said plunger is disposed in the upper portion of one of said guideways, each said plunger having means on the inner end face for engaging the end of a writing unit, said base having a center opening therethrough, a plunger-repelling spring may be inserted into said cage for engagement against the underside of the plunger, said opening having recesses formed in the edge therefor, each opposite one of said guideways, said recesses being adapted to guide a writing unit and the marginal edge portion of each of said recesses adapted to form an abutment for the other end of a plunger-repelling spring.

4. A writing instrument for multiple propel-repel writing units, comprising a barrel of substantially circular cross-section, and a writing unit supporting and moving structure inserted into an end of said barrel, said structure comprising a cage, including a circular base adapted to fit snugly within said other barrel end,;and ..a-t least three t spaced, upright posts disposed vertically, peripherally on said base, said posts each being of substantially rectangular cross-section and having an outer portion of greater cross-section than its inner portion, said outer portion of each said post defined from the inner portion thereof by a shoulder on each of its sides facing an adjacent post, each said inner post portion extending a distance above the edge of said other barrel end, when said edge is disposed within said barrel and adjacent of said posts defining a plunger guideway between them, each said plunger guideway having a relatively narrow upper portion and a wider lower portion and tapering toward the axial center of said cage, a plunger having a main body portion conforming in cross-section with the cross-section of the outer portion of said guideway and an extension facing the axial center of said cage on said main body portion, said extension has/ing a nose formed thereon terminating at a distance from the outer end of said plunger not exceeding 'the length of said wider portion of said post, said nose arranged to be disposed at the axial center of said cage when said plunger is disposed in the outer portion of said guideway, each said plunger having means on its inner end face for engaging a writing unit, said base having a central opening wherethrough piunger repelling springs may be inserted into said cage, and a recess formed in the edge of said opening opposite each of said guideways adapted to guide a writing unit engaged on the plunger within the guideway opposite thereto, each said recess having a marginal edge portion adapted to form an abutment for a plunger-repelling spring.

5. The writing instrument of claim 4, wherein said cage is provided with a top wall connecting the outer ends of said posts, said top wall being of lesser area than said base and connected to the inner portions of the upper ends of said posts.

6. The writing instrument of claim 4, wherein said nose is formed with a tapered inner end.

7. A writing instrument for multiple propel-repel writing units, comprising a barrel and a writing unit supporting and moving structure mounted on one end of said barrel, said structure including a base portion removably interchangeable with said end of said barrel and a plurality of spaced upright posts disposed peripherally on said base portion extending above said barrel defining plunger guideways between them above said barrel, a

plunger slidably disposed within each said guideway, each said plunger having a nose on its surface facing the axial center of said structure, means within said structure limiting the movement of each said plunger toward the axial 6 center of said structure to prevent disposal of the nose thereof past said center, means on each said post, below said limiting means adapted to engage the outer end of a plunger when said plunger is moved downwardly in its guideway and inwardly toward said center to dispose said nose thereof past said axial center, each said plunger having means on its inner end for engaging a writing unit, said base portion having an opening formed therethrough for insertion of a writing unit into the structure for engagement on said engaging means.

8. A writing instrument for multiple propei-re-pel writing units, comprising a barrel and a writing unit supporting and moving structure mounted on one end of said barrel, said structure including a base portion removably interchangeable with said end of said barrel and at least three spaced upright posts disposed peripherally on said base portion extending above said barrel, defining plunger guideways between them above said barrel, a plunger having a nose on its surface facing the axial center of said structure, means within said structure limiting the movement of each said plunger toward the axial center of said structure to prevent disposal of the nose thereof past said center, means on each said post, below said limiting means, adapted to engage the outer end of a plunger when said plunger is moved downwardly in its guideway and inwardly toward said center to dispose said nose thereof past said axialcenter, each said plunger having means on its inner end for engaging a Writing unit, said base portion having an opening formed therethrough for insertion of a writing unit into the structure for engagement on said engaging means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,315 1/1953 Weisser et a1 -4213 3,103,205 9/1963 Legnani 120-42.13 3,170,441 2/ 1965 Levoin 120-42.13

FOREIGN PATENTS 217,896 3/1961 Austria.

985,040 5/1951 France. 1,008,817 2/1952 France. 1,249,835 11/1960 France 1,099,392 2/ 1961 Germany.

578,023 7/ 1958 Italy.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Examiner. 

7. A WRITING INSTRUMENT FOR MULTIPLE PROPEL-REPEL WRITING UNITS, COMPRISING A BARREL AND A WRITING UNIT SUPPORTING AND MOVING STRUCTURE MOUNTED ON ONE END OF SAID BARREL, SAID STRUCTURE INCLUDING A BASE PORTION REMOVABLY INTERCHANGEABLE WITH SAID END OF SAID BARREL AND A PLURALITY OF SPACED UPRIGHT POSTS DISPOSED PERIPHERALLY ON SAID BASE PORTION EXTENDING ABOVE SAID BARREL DEFINING PLUNGER GUIDEWAYS BETWEEN THEN ABOVE AND BARREL, A PLUNGER SLIDABLY DISPOSED WITHIN EACH SAID GUIDEWAY, EACH SAID PLUNGER HAVING A NOSE ON ITS SURFACE FACING THE AXIAL CENTER OF SAID STRUCTURE, MEANS WITHIN SAID STRUCTURE LIMITING THE MOVEMENT OF EACH SAID PLUNGER TOWARD THE AXIAL CENTER OF SAID STRUCTURE TO PREVENT DISPOSAL OF THE NOSE THEREOF PAST SAID CENTER, MEANS ON EACH SAID POST, BELOW SAID LIMITING MEANS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE OUTER END OF A PLUNGER WHEN SAID PLUNGER IS MOVED DOWNWARDLY IN ITS GUIDEWAY AND INWARDLY TOWARD SAID CENTER TO DISPOSE AND NOSE THEREOF PAST SAID AXIAL CENTER, EACH SAID PLUNGER HAVING MEANS ON ITS INNER END FOR ENGAGING A WRITING UNIT, SAID BASE PORTION HAVING AN OPENING FORMED THERETHROUGH FOR INSERTION OF A WRITING UNIT INTO THE STRUCTURE FOR ENGAGEMENT ON SAID ENGAGEMENT MEANS. 